Abstract:The genus Eremanthus is recognized by the predominance of sesquiterpene lactones from the furanoheliangolide type, a class of substances extensively tested against cancer cell lines. Thus, the species E. crotonoides (DC.) Sch. Bip., Asteraceae, obtained on "restinga" vegetation was evaluated against U251 and U87-MG glioma cell lines using the MTT colorimetric assay. Dichloromethane fraction was cytotoxic to both glioblastoma multiforme cell lines. We then conducted UPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis of the dichloromethane fraction, which allowed the identification of the sesquiterpene lactones centratherin and goyazensolide. The isolation of centratherin was performed using chromatographic techniques and the identification of this substance was confirmed according to NMR data. Cytotoxic activity of centratherin alone was also evaluated against both U251 and U87-MG cells, which showed IC50 values comparable with those obtained for the commercial anticancer drug doxorubicin. All the tested samples showed cytotoxic activity against glioblastoma multiforme cells which suggests that E. crotonoides extracts may be important sources of antiproliferative substances and that the centratherin may serve as prototype for developing new antiglioblastoma drugs.

The teaching of science at high school levels, chemistry in particular, is a portrait of the educational deficit that has been accumulated by Brazil throughout its history. Besides the lack of infrastructure for experimental classes, teachers of this discipline are severely lacked. This article summarizes the results of projects submitted to two calls: Call FAPERJ Nº 08/2012 -Support Production of Teaching Materials for Teaching Activities and/or Survey -2012, of witch objective was to produce 300 kits containing laboratory materials to be distributed to teachers of Chemistry of High Schools of RJ State and Municipal Networks; and FAPERJ Nº 31/2012 -Support Improve Education in Public Network Schools in the State of Rio de Janeiro -2012, whose objective was to organize a laboratory of Chemistry for experimental classes in Colégio Estadual José Veríssimo, located in Magé city. Both the production of kits and the organization of the chemical laboratory were successfully completed and are impacting positively on various Rio de Janeiro schools, in particular, on the Colégio Estadual José Veríssimo, which became a model for Magé and all Rio de Janeiro state schools.